Display grille



L.. ACTON DISPLAY GRILLE Nov. 27, 1934.

Filed Aug. 25, 1935 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY GRILLE Len Acton, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Richard` Burdick, Dallas, Tex.

Application August 25, 1933, Serial No. 686,754

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display grilles.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved display grille for doors, windows and the like.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a display grille having removable char acters, such as letters and numbers, arranged so as to be changed and adjusted according to the designation desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grille having a novel adjustment, whereby it may be mounted in door and window openings of various widths.

A construction designed to carry out the in- Vention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a grille constructed in accordance with the invention and attached to a door,

Figure 2 is a detail of the character holder mounting,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a partial isometric view of the grille, and

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the letters.

In the drawing the numeral 10 designates a pair oi side members which are suitably fastened by screws 1l to the stile of a door 12. I have shown the members curved so as to make for a neater and more artistic appearance, but they may be of any desired shape.

A display panel 13, carrying any desired indicia, is mounted between the side members 10 and is held in position by bolts 14 and nuts l5. Spacer collars 16 are inserted between the ends of the panel and the side members. The collars may be made in different sizes so that when the grille is used on a wider door and the side members are a greater distance apart, larger collars can be used to take up the additional space between the ends of the panel and the side members. This permits the use of a single size panel on all sizes of doors and also makes for a quick and easy adjustment of the grille to any door.

Above the display panel 13, a holder 17 ior characters such as letters or numbers is supported in the side members 10. The holder includes a pair of arcuate channel bars 18 and 19. which are mounted parallel to each other (Figure 1).

The mounting of the channel bars is an important feature of the invention. The upper chan-- nel bar 18 has its ends extending through slots 18 provided in the side members 10. Each member 10 has an integral ear or tongue 20 extending outwardly therefrom and overlying the upper side ol the channel bar. A set screw 21 is screwthreaded in the ear 20 and when tightened down engages notches 22 in the upper side or" the channel bar 18. Thus, it will be seen that the set screws 21 serve to hold the channel bar 18 65 rigidly in position.

The lower channel bar 19 is mounted in the side members 10 in the same way as the bar 18, The ends of the bar 19 extend through slots 19 in said members and set screws 24 carried by ears 70 25 on the side members engage notches 26 in the underside of the bar 19 to hold said bar in position. It is pointed out that the bars 18 and 19 are mounted so that their channels are directed inwardly.

Letters or characters 27 (Figure 5) are provided with lugs 28 at their upper and lower ends. The characters are positioned between the channel bars 18 and 19 and the lugs 28 engage in the channels of said bars, whereby the characters are supported between the bars (Figure 3). Any desired characters, such as letters, numbers, or the like, may be displayed. As an example, I have shown a namer displayed in the holder. The letters are positioned in the holder in correct order and are properly spaced. The lugs 28 of each letter are engaging in the channels of Jthe bars. The sides of the channels are then crimped or bent inwardly between the letters (Figure 4) to hold the letters rmly in their proper position. If desired, a small display panel 29 may be suspended in any suitable Way from the central portion of the holder 17. This panel may carry any desired indicia, although I have shown it as indicating the business of the man whose name is displayed in the holder 17.

It is obvious from the above that an attractive and neat appearing grille is had. There are three distinct display spaces and the grille is readily ad- 100 justable to any size door. The particular mounting of the characters in the holder 17 is an irnportant feature in that the characters are easily spaced and positioned in any desired way. I have shown additional decorative members 30 secured 105 to side members 10 and the underside of the display panel 13 and although these members add to the appearance of the grille, they are not essential thereto.

When it is desired to widen the grille to t a 1l@ of. the appended claims, without the spirit of the invention.

larger door, it is only necessary to loosen the set screws 21 and 24 and unfasten the bolts 14 to remove the display panel 13. The side members are then moved outwardlythe desired distance and the set screws again tightened in other' notches of the channel bars. 'I'he collars 16 are then replaced with larger ones and the display panel is again fastened in position by the bolts 14. Thus, it is seen that the adjustment is made quick- `ly and easily. Although I have shown and deof the invention, which is set fort-has newand useful, however, I desire it understood that'the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction, because it is manifest that changes andmodifications may be made withinv the scope departing from Vi/hatly claim vand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A display grilleV comprising, upright side members provided with means at their upper and lower ends for securing them to the sides of an opening, adisplay panel disposed between said members and carried thereby, and a holder for characters disposed between the upper ends of the members and having means `for Vholding individual characters therein.

2. `A display grille comprising, upright side members provided with means at their upper and lower ends for securing them to the sides of an opening, a display panel disposedbetweenfsaid acters disposed between the upper ends of the kmembers and including a pair of channel bars for holding individual characters therebetween, and

means foradjustably connecting 'the ends of the channel bars with the side members.

' 4A `display grille comprising, a pair ofside members, each member having slots therein, a display panel disposed between said members and carried thereby, ,apair of arcuate channel bars for holding individualv characters-therebetween disposed between the upper ends of the members, the endsk of the channel bars engaging in the slots of the side members, and means for fastening the bars in adjusted position with relation tothe members. i y 5. A display grille comprising, side members, a display panel bolted between the side members and carried thereby, spacer collars disposed between the ends ofthe panel and the members to compensate the space therebetween, a holder for characters disposed between the upper ends of the side members and having means for holding individual characters therein,. and means for'adjustably connecting the ends of the holder with the side members. n

. LEN ACTON. 

